Author: johnniekathryn19

What’s the Tea? Thursday

.Reading time 10 minutes.

First let me say, HAPPY THURSDAY! I hope this blog will get you through the day to make it to Friday and the glorious weekend! This blog is where I answer your most asked questions about anything! These topics were picked by you and I will answer them! Usually 3-5 Subjects with 3-5 answers depending on the week.

This is going to be a very fall themed Tea Thursday revolving around all things fall.

3 Date Night Ideas

I am going to give you 3 Date nights but in a different way, not just date night with your significant other but also one with your friends and one with yourself (yes, its important to date yourself). This theme is going to carry through to the rest of the questions as well. You all asked some great questions and I thought they would go well together!

Date night with your honey. Jared and I are quite simple. We like to go out for a nice meal, get dressed up and drink wine… but that’s a pretty standard date night and really not that original. So, to spice things up, so to speak, we’ll go to the food truck carnival or pick a restaurant we’ve never been to before, for an entirely new experience. I really want to play the grocery store roulette/isle game! You know the one where you run around the store and your partner tells you to stop in the middle of the isle? That looks silly and fun! We have also been wanting to try that Axe throwing! Jared is really excited about it and I’m excited to drink a beer and laugh with him!

Last year on our 4th anniversary

Date night with your friends. My friends are adventurous and we love to try new things but they are also down with the classics. We love to par take in the seasonal festivities and because its fall, we suggest going to the pumpkin patch! Pick out the perfect pumpkin and carve them together! With everything going on, its a great way to get outside, social distance and spend some much needed time with your girls! 

Self Care Night is something I highly believe in. Spending time alone is very healthy and important! Every day is different and what you need from one day to the next is different so, check in with yourself and ask yourself what you need. Sometimes, I want to go see a really girly movie so, I go. If I’m craving a certain dish from a restaurant, I go. Theres this place down the street from me that makes THE BEST chicken pasta salad!!! Its literally a caesar salad, with cold noodles tossed in and a grilled chicken breast on top with parmesan cheese and if you ask really nicely, they’ll give you garlic bread! (My local downtown crew knows exactly what I am talking about! If you’re new to Anchorage, you have to check out F Street Station. I believe they are closed for the foreseeable future though.) Let’s just say, as a type 7, I don’t limit myself and no matter what enneagram type you are, you shouldn’t either. Indulge a little, live a little. We’ll never get the time back so why not show yourself in the process.

Self care night during quarantine

3 Fall Outfits

Date Night with your person. As any woman, I like to look good and I am sure you’re the same! I always try to be comfortable! I want to show a little off while still feeling great! I usually go for a dress. It will probably have sleeves because you know, Alaska is cold! Add some accessories and cute boots and bam! Good to go!

Girls Nights. I ALWAYS without a doubt, ask my friends what they’re wearing. I don’t want to wear jeans if everyone else is in dresses but, I’d probably still wear a dress even if they were in jeans and make the dress a little more casual. To make any outfit a “fall outfit” just add a cute over sized scarf and a longer jacket like the ones below.

Self Care Night really depends on what I’m doing and where I’m going. Obviously, 2020 has been the year of loungewear and joggers but, I MISS being able to co exist, causally. I think, one of my go to pieces is a pair of stretchy leggings and I’m really loving the Spanx ones. Paired with a flowy shirt/sweater and cute boots. The spanx could even be switched for jeans, if you’re feeling it. When you have found the right leggings and perfect pair of skinny jeans, its like hitting the lottery! I liiiiiiiterally haven’t bought a new pair of jeans in at least a year. I am obsessed with the KUT from Kloth brand. Great quality, great fit and a great price (Not cheap but not designer prices either).

3 Fall Cocktails

For date night, no matter the season Jared usually reaches for a bourbon. He may have a beer but usually bourbon. When I was talking about this category, his ears perked up and then I had the idea of including his ideas and answers too. I asked him for a fall recommendation for bourbon, like what bourbon would you drink with the fall season and why. Let me tell you, I got quite the answer. Bourbon is a classic spirit. Just like wine, bourbon is just as unique. There are many ways to drink it, some neat, with ice and as a cocktail. He recommends for fall: Clydes May, it’s steeped with apples and is slightly sweeter. If you’re not into sweet, Buffalo Trace is a touch stronger but not so strong it needs ice so, it’ll keep you nice and warm as the temperatures shift. For winter: Elijah Craig barrel proof because this one is a winter warmer and is nice and strong. For summer: Kentucky Vintage because it makes a nice front porch drink. For spring: Four Roses Small Batch, this is my favorite because of how subtle and smooth it is.

For Girls Night, when we aren’t drinking wine and white claws, this summer, I made coconut rum slushies. They were coconut popsicles, coconut rum, lime white claw and some extra ice. Blend them up and yay! you have a yummy drink! For fall, I highly recommend, a hot buttered rum but with pumpkin spice. There is a restaurant here that makes their own syrup for the hot buttered rum and its so good!!! (I swear I’m not a rum drinker, it just happens that 2 of my favorite drinks have rum in them)

For self care night. I make a delicious Mulled Wine. It’s like warm sangria but better and more festive! It has taken me several years to figure out and I think I’ve done it! The trick you ask?? Don’t add sugar… Sugar makes it so sweet. 2 bottles of a red blend (or 2 bottles you haven’t drank in the last year because their questionable), 1 orange, 1 cup of frozen cranberries, 3-6 cinnamon sticks, 1 cup apple cider. Throw it all in a pot, LIGHTLY, BARELY simmer the wine, you don’t want to cook out the alcohol!!! and once its warm transfer it to a small crockpot and keep it warm. Serve and enjoy.

Well, THATS THE TEA!!!

Thank you for waiting SO long for this blog! I hope to continue to make it monthly! If you have any questions, please ask! I LOVE hearing from you!!!

XOXO,

Johnnie

Travel Tuesday

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Happy Tuesday!

This is one of my favorite days of the week because I get to share this blog with you! If you are a travel junkie like me, then 2020 has NOT been our year BUT I’m trying to keep my head up and stay positive. My boyfriend and I have been traveling around our great state of Alaska, if you follow me on IG you will have seen some of our adventures! Come give me a follow and see where we’re headed next! I think in 2 weeks we’re going to head to the iconic Homer, Alaska for a little getaway.

This is the first of installment, and hopefully many more to come, of “Travel Tuesday”. I know the concept isn’t a new thing and several bloggers us it but… why not get an Alaskan’s perspective to travel? So, with this blog, I will answer some of your most asked questions on travel!

How do you find the best flights?

Let me tell you a secret… it’s not a secret at all, I use google. I find the best flights by googling. However, I try not to put too many parameters in my google search. I will literally type in London and maybe put in the months and see what pops up. Or, you can type in international’s flights, months if you want too or not, and hit search. Google is an amazing thing. It gives you so many options.

A big thing I have learned with traveling is BE FLEXIBLE. Go with the flow. I am SURE many of you are laughing as you are reading this because you remember my “London Vision Board” that was completely filled up. In all fairness, I love planning. It’s almost as fun as the trip and it prolongs the excitement. With the London Vision Board specifically, you have to plan some things. We really wanted to go to certain restaurants and activities that just require reservations and some planning on our part.

If you want to travel and you want to travel cheap, DON’T fly on the weekends, DON’T fly at peak times and DON’T fly during the holidays. DO fly on out Tuesdays and home on Mondays, DO fly at night if possible (something Alaskan’s don’t really have a choice at doing sometimes), DO fly in those weird times that everyone else isn’t like middle of February.

These are just a few tips on finding the best flights, I hope it helps.

How do you find the best local food or best places for drinks?

Honestly, I am a very direct, outgoing and playful person so, I straight up ask. I have been a server for so long that its easy to talk to people so, when I’ve settled into my hotel or place I am staying, I usually ask the front desk for a place close by to grab a drink. There, I’ll chat with the server or bartender and get a feel for their favorite spots. You have to make sure they’re not giving you the places they think you want to hear, ask for specific type of food or bevies.

Now, I realize not everyone is comfortable chatting up people and some people like to keep to themselves. So, please let me direct you to GirlsLOVETravel. This is a Facebook group specifically for women, sorry guys!, with 1 million members. These women have traveled the world and it’s INCREDIBLE. These ladies post are so unique and diverse. You can go in the search bar and type in the area and search the posts or create a post of your own. If you’re starving and just can’t think of where to go, grab ANYTHING quick! Your blood sugar is low and your brain can’t think if you’re hungry. So, grab a quick snack, even if its McDonald’s (it’s totally different in every country) and starting brainstorming. Or, start walking and pop in somewhere that looks cool, that’s how I’ve found lots of cool, delicious places. If you don’t like it, pay your tab, finish your drink and move on. No need to spend time somewhere you don’t like especially on vacation.

What do you wear on the plane?

I always wear something comfortable but I always make sure I look presentable, you NEVER know when the counter agent or flight attendant will upgrade you. I will typically wear a flow top, usually a dark color, in case I spill, light enough that I can layer a soft sweater, leggings and a pull on pair of shoes. If I am going somewhere colder, I will typically wear the coat I am bringing so I have it when I get off the plane and I don’t have to pack it. If I going somewhere warmer, it’s usually the sweater I’ll use at night on my vacation when it cools off. I always get cold on the plane so, I need layers. I think that might be an Alaskan thing too, I don’t know.

While this outfit isn’t super fancy or probably even fashionable, its practical, which Alaskan’s are all about. I want to look cute, while remaining comfortable. If I am sitting on a 9 hour flight you can BET I am NOT wearing jeans or a tight dress. TBH, I don’t think I’ve ever worn a tight dress on the plane. (For those of you that have, no judgement. You do you.)

Keep it simple. My Dad’s biggest piece of advice. TSA will thank you later too 😉

Nordstrom Anniversary Sale

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Let’s talk the Nordstrom Anniversary Sale! Aka one of my favorite times of year! Normally, I would go into a Nordstrom and try on a TON of pieces! But, not only is 2020 shaping up to be the weirdest year but, Nordstrom left downtown Anchorage and that breaks my heart. However, I’ve shopped with Nordstrom for years and long enough to know the quality of the brands and the fit so, if you’re unsure of some items, shoot me a message and I can help with that. I will say that I’m very excited about all the fall sweaters on sale! Well, lets get to it!

What is the Anniversary Sale?

The Nordstrom Anniversary Sale is an annual sale, held usually in July, that offers customers new arrivals by top brands at huge discounts!

When is the Anniversary Sale?

This year the Nordstrom Anniversary Sale preview goes live on July 24th. The sale officially starts on August 19th and lasts until the 30th. If you have a Nordstrom debit or credit card you will receive “Early Access” based on your access level:

ICON– August 4th-18th

AMBASSDOR– August 7th-18th

INFLUENCERS– August 10th-18th

INSIDERS– August 13th-18th

To earn this access, you have to have the Nordstrom Card and I’ll link that here, if you’re interested in applying. There are a TON of perks that come with the card and definitely worth checking out! Just to name a few: New members will receive $60 in Nordstrom Notes to start and 3X the points on every purchase.

Tips for Shopping the Sale:

Look into getting the Nordstrom Card. I have had it for years and have loved the extra perks and getting to shop the sale early.

Create a Nordy’s Club account. That way, if you choose not to get the card, you can still earn points for Nordstrom Notes and save all of you favorites for when the sale goes live. That will make getting your items easier.

Something I’m bad about is NOT looking in my wardrobe and seeing what I NEED versus what I always tend to gravitate too. Like I said earlier, I am excited about the fall sweaters but I HAVE so many fall sweaters so, this year I’ll limit my sweater purchases and focus on other things. I used to have a GREAT pair of leopard print flats and now I see another pair that I HAVE TO HAVE! Spanx is also on sale! I already have the faux leather leggings, and let me tell you! they are worth every penny! but, I do need another pair of actual Spanx so, I’ll be looking into those. My advice: Check your wardrobe and buy for the holes in your closet.

ASK ME! I am a GREAT resource for the Nordstrom Anniversary Sale, as I have shopped it for years and have been very loyal to Nordstrom for a long time. Like I said in stories, my close friends know how much I love Nordstrom and that 90% of my closet is from there. I’m going to pull some pieces this week and show you on stories! Make sure to stop by!

My Nordstrom Anniversary Sale Picks:

Tap HERE to shop

Nordstrom Anniversary Sale favorites:

Tap HERE to shop these looks

Designer Brands on major Sale:

Tap HERE to shop these designer pieces

Nordstrom Anniversary Beauty Picks:

Tap HERE to shop these beauty’s products

Thanks for stopping by Johnnie Kathryn and reading my Nordstrom Anniversary Sale post. It means so much that you took the time to read this. As always, if you have any questions please message me, as I’m happy to answer any questions! Enjoy the Sale!

XOXO,

Johnnie

Taylor

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I want to talk about Taylor today. My little snuggle nugget. My bestest friend for the past 11 years. Taylor is a long haired chihuahua. She was born at my moms house when my mom was breeding chihuahuas. I saw her when she was only a few days and didn’t have her eyes open, then a few weeks later when she did and then I finally decided I needed a little pup of my own and I picked her out of the litter. If you don’t know, chihuahua puppies are smaaaaaaalll. Like tiiiiiny. She was so small and so cute. She couldn’t even jump on the couch!

Taylor at 8 weeks old

Taylor isn’t your typical chihuahua. She’s always been quiet, shy and reserved. She doesn’t bark, growl or run off. She’s extremely loyal and listens very well. I have always tended to have a more mellow and calm animals. Even with my horses, they were always easy going. Taylor is just the same. She is always down to hang out and she is always on her best behavior. She’s just little lady. That was almost her name. It was between Lady, Claire, Taylor and Poppy. I grew up mushing dogs and my moms favorite lead females were named Lady and Claire so, it was an honor when my mom suggested those names but I just couldn’t get Poppy and Taylor out of my head. One day, I was driving with Taylor on my lap, and a Taylor Swift song came on and I just thought to myself ” Wow, yeah, Taylor suits her” and that was that. ALL, and when I say all, I mean ALL my friends think I named her after Taylor Swift… I am a huge fan but that wasn’t the reason but I guess you could say that in a way, they’re right.

I am lucky because Chihuahuas tend to lead a pretty long life for dogs. If you keep their health up and teeth cleaned. Not keeping their teeth clean can lead to many, many health complications. One big one is heart disease. Taylor gets her teeth cleaned once a year and because of that, she still has all of her teeth, which is rare in small dogs. I have a sneaking suspicion that she’ll lose a couple this year, just due to age and what not.

It was Taylors birthday on August 9th and my little puppy is 11. She still acts like a puppy. She still runs in the grass, tries to chase the birds, even though most of them are bigger than her and jumps on the couch like its no big deal.

XOXO,

Johnnie& Taylor

Summer Shorts Haul

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If you watched my stories, you’ll know that over the weekend I tried on pair after pair of shorts for ya’ll. I kept the options to Walmart and Target. They had the best prices. When I polled you, you said you would rather save versus splurge on shorts so, that’s exactly what I showed you. All of the shorts were under $20 with a variety of options like, light and dark wash jean shorts, athletic shorts, bright color shorts and even loungewear shorts.

Walmart

I tried on 3 pairs of shorts from Walmart. Two of the pairs, I tried on in multiple colors. The cognac and light jean were like jean material but they were very stretchy, comfortable and under $12.

The athletic pair, that I showed in purple but also bought in black, were a bit shorter than I’m comfortable with but a great activewear material with a cool mesh detail at the bottom.

The teal loungewear pair was a soft and cozy material that I could wear all day! This pair was great quality, true to size and came in many colors so, it was hard to choose which pair to buy. I might go back and pick up a few more.

Target

Now, I’m not going to lie. I had more fun trying on the Target shorts than I did the Walmart ones and I’ll tell you why. When I went to Walmart, I was rushed but I saw all of these great short options and I just started grabbing. I wasn’t putting a ton of forward thinking into doing a try on or a post but here we are. When I was looking at Target, the light wash jean shorts, I had been looking at for weeks before I bought. They were sold out for a loooong time so, I had them on an email alert for when they would be back in stock. Its funny because, I ordered their darker twin as an impulse and I ended up liking the dark pair better. I tend to gravitate towards darker wash jeans anyways so that’s really no surprise. When I was buying the others, I thought some fun variety with the pink checkered and blue stripes would be fun for you guys. And you ended up LOVING the blue striped pair!

The jean shorts were probably my favorite. Although, the light wash, distressed jean was what lead me to this post, it was the dark wash with the cuff at the bottom that I really loved. The light pair was tighter at the top than they should have been. I recommend these would be great for someone with a slightly smaller waist. Especially, if you have the trouble of the waistline having a gap in the back, this pair won’t do that. Now, if you’re like me and have slightly bigger thighs and have a hard time with jeans fitting over them, these might not be for you. Granted, I did get these on but it was not without effort. It was weird, both the light and dark jeans said they were exactly the same, “high rise, midi short, smooth and sculpt” but they didn’t feel the same to me. If the dark wash came in light wash e x a c t l y, I would buy them. Overall, great jean shorts for $15.

The pink checkered and blue striped shorts were fun! I love the classic, summer look of them both. The blue pair specifically reminded me of another era. Both of these shorts are the same material, not quite linen but they had the linen structure. They had absolutely no stretch so, I would say size up if you want these, unless you have a boyish figure or are petite.

The loungewear fuchsia pair were terry cloth without pockets. I bought these online and didn’t realize they didn’t have pockets, in my opinion no pockets are a no go, aka deal breaker, even in lounge shorts. They were cute, comfy and fit true to size.

Well, that concludes the shorts review for today. I hope you enjoyed and it helped you find a pair for you! Make sure to check out my LTK for daily finds, deals and great style. If you have any questions, please send me a message!

Get to know me

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To start the blog off, I wanted to start by introducing myself and telling you a little bit about me, other than the introductory paragraph on the home page.

I was born, raised and still live in Alaska. My name, Johnnie, came from my Dad’s mother. I didn’t get the chance to meet to her. My middle name, Kathryn, is my Mom’s mother’s middle name. I was able to know her, my Grandma Joanne, and we were thick as thieves, she was my favorite. So, I thought it was special to use my name to start the blog.

I have a sidekick, her name is Taylor. She is a long haired chihuahua and will be 11 this August! I picked her out almost as soon as she was born and took her home 8 weeks later. She is the sweetest, snuggliest and well mannered pup I’ve ever owned.

Taylor at 8 weeks, 5 years and camping at 10 years old.

A few more general things about me: I love travel so, you can expect lots of that on here! I’m obsessed with London so, I’ll probably share all sorts of London content. I love baking and make a killer apple pie! Harry Potter=Life. I’ve been to “The Making of Harry Potter” Studio in Leavesden, London twice, Universal Studios twice, a Harry Potter tour around London, Tour in Scotland and I’ve eaten at the White Elephant Cafe.

I LOVE clothes!!! I color coordinate my closet too. I’m apart of LIKEtoKNOW.it so you can shop my daily looks for inspiration!

Oh! And I love a good beer! Going to local breweries is one of my favorite things to do!

Thanks for stopping by and “slowing your scroll”. If you have any questions, comments or suggestions send me a message. In the mean time, subscribe so you don’t miss any posts! Cheers!

XOXO,

Johnnie